Covered stents: a review

Stents are the most important advance for percutaneous coronary revascularization. After introduction of drug eluting stents, in-stent restenosis ist not more a major problem of coronary intervention. However, restenosis by bare metal stents, peripheral embolism following stent implationtan in old vein grafts, and conditions in which there is a discontinuity of the coronary lumen (rupture or perforation, aneurysm, and fistula) remain a problem in interventional therapy. Stent grafts with integration of a membrane into a coronary stent represent an interesting concept to possibly prevent intraluminal proliferation, to seal degenerated vein grafts, and to cover coronary artery perforations, symptomatic aneurysms, and fistula with high success and acceptable rates of acute complications. We presents case reports and a review article.